Appoquinimink River Watershed
Watershed Description
Chesapeake River Bluff Chestnut Oak Forest above Appoquinimink River
The Appoquinimink River drains the rapidly growing City of Middletown and adjacent Town of Odessa. More development is likely resulting in more pressure on the water quality of the watershed. Notable in this watershed is the large amount of “greensand geology”, a rare geological formation in Delaware.
Watershed Area: 30,269 acres (12,249 hectares)
Location: Southern New Castle County between Augustine Creek on the north and Blackbird Creek on the south.
Flow Direction: East towards Delaware Bay.
Characteristics: Semi-urban in the west around Middletown and Odessa. Rural in the eastern parts.
Appoquinimink River History
Appoquinimink is a native american name that means “duck” or “wounded duck”. Odessa, located on a bluff above the river, is one of the oldest towns in Delaware, while Middletown to the west is one of the newer towns in Delaware.
Major Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
The Appoquinimink River watershed contains most of the examples of Chesapeake Bay River-Bluff Chestnut Oak Forest in Delaware, an uncommon forest. Numerous occurrences of Central Appalachian Basic Seepage Swamp with black ash are in this watershed as well. Agricultural Field, ranked #1, covers a little more than one-third of the watershed. Cultivated lawn and impervious surface take the #2 and #3 spots showing the development associated with Middletown. Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest is the most common “natural community” type covering 1,733 acres, followed by North Atlantic Low Salt Marsh with 1,260 acres.
| Appoquinimink River Watershed Vegetation Communities/Land Covers
(Top 5 for 2007) |
||
| Vegetation Community/Land Cover | Acres | Hectares |
| Agricultural Field | 12,089.00 | 4,892.00 |
| Cultivated Lawn | 5,903.00 | 2,389.00 |
| Impervious Surface | 2,471.00 | 1,000.00 |
| Mid-Atlantic Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest | 1,733.00 | 701.00 |
| North Atlantic Low Salt Marsh | 1,260.00 | 510.00 |
*Note: The numbers in the table above will change as more mapping is completed.
Managed Lands in Appoquinimink River Watershed
- Augustine Wildlife Area (Green, Silver Run and Baxter Tracts)
- Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area (Rocks Tract)
Links of Interest
Vegetation Community/Land Cover Maps Available
One vegetation community/land cover map based on 2007 aerial imagery is available in .pdf format. The map is in the process of completion and is provided “as is” for informational purposes. Email robcoxe@baccharisconsulting.com for shapefile requests.